Motor-controller.



C. T. HENDERSON.

MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-2,1914.

1,222,207. Patented Apr. 10,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARK '1. HENDERSON, OE MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO THE CUTLER- HAMMER MFG. C0,, 01 MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

MOTOR-CONTROLLER.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CLARK T. HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and,

useful Improvements in Motor-Controllers, of which the-following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relatesto motor controller and is especially advantageous for electric vehicles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide improved means whereby the driving motor of an electric vehicle or other machine may be conveniently controlled for starting in reverse directions and for speed regulation.

A further object is to provide means of the aforesaid character which will minimize the danger of unexpected action on the part of the driven machine and which will protect the driving motor in starting and while running.

Other objects and advantages will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter in connection with the description of the embodiment of the invention diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein the figure exemplifies a motor vehicle controller.

Referring-more specifically to the drawing, there is provided a driving motor having an armature A and a shunt field winding F supplied with current from a storage battery B and controlled by manual and automatic means, as will appear.

The manual controlling means includes a reversing switch R to govern the armature circuit and to interrupt said circuit at will. As diagrammatically illustrated, this switch comprises a pivoted arm 1 having electrically independent contact sections 2 and 3 arranged respectively to bridge stationary contacts 4, 5 or 6, 7 and contacts 8, 9 or 10, 11 in opposite extreme positions of the arm. The switch is arranged for operation by a lever 12 preferably located on the post of the steering wheel 13 of the vehicle and operatively connected with the arm 1 through any suitable medium, such as a sleeve 14 and links 15, 16.

Also, the manual controlling means includes two adjustable rheostats 17 and 18 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 10 1917.

Application filed November 2, 1914. Serial No. 869,839.

such as a spring 24, to release the brake 22,

and in this position the rheostats 17 and 18 respectively exclude the armature resistance and include the field resistance. Operation of the lever 21 serves to gradually insert armature resistance 19, simultaneously to remove field resistance 20 in any preferred number of steps, to open the armature circuit when all field resistance is excluded,

and thereafter to render the braking device 22 effective. Conversely, release of the pedal 21 recloses the armature circuit, gradually removes the armature resistance and includes the field resistance, but as shown, the field resistance is not included until the latter part of the movement of lever 18.

The elements mentioned are interlocked to insure insertion of all armature resistance and exclusion of all field resistance prior to operation of the reversing switch R from neutral position to either of its operative positions, Whereas said reversing switch is always free to be moved to neutral position to open the motor circuit. As illustrated, the interlocking means comprises a pivoted member 25 having a notch 26 and sloping cam surfaces 27 on either side and normally biased by a spring" 28 toward an extension or lug 29 of the pivoted arm 1.

In the drawing the arm 1 appears in extreme right hand position and the lug 29 engages the left cam 27 of the member 25. Thus said arm is free to be moved to neutral position to interrupt the motor circuit but upon such movement the member 25 snaps to lock the lug 29 in notch 26 so that further operation of the arm 1 in either direction is effectually prevented until the member 25 is tripped. Such tripping is effected by the brake lever 21 through the medium of the rheostat operating member 23. More specifically the member 23 has an extension 30 to engage an extension 31 of regulating the field resistance at will. The

controller 32, like the reverser, is also preferably ,arranged for operation b a lever 33 mounted on the steering post 0 the vehicle, as shown.

The aforesaid automatic control means comprises a vibrating relay switch 34 having a winding 35 in the armature circuit and responsive under excessive current conditions in said circuit such as frequently occur in starting and in climbing grades, to close circuit between stationary contacts 36 and 37, and thereby short-circuit all of the field resistance. When normal current conditions are restored the field resistance is again included in circuit automatically unless excluded by one of the manual controllers in the meantime.

The circuit connections may be traced as follows: With the switches R, 17, 18, 32 y and in the positions illustrated current is supplied from the battery by conductor .38

- across stationary contacts 8, 9 of reverser Rf, by connector 39 to stationary contact 11 o relay windin 35, by conductor 41 through rheostat 17 resistance 19 being excluded), by conductor 42 to and through the armature A, by conductor 43 across stationary contacts 4, 5 of reverser R and to return line 44.. Current is also supplied from line 38 by conductor 45 to and through the field F, by conductor 46 through field resistance 20, by conductors 47 and 48 to stationary contact 10 of reverser R across conductor 49 to stationary contact 5 and thence to the return line 44. With the reverser R in its opposite position the field circuit remains as traced but the flow of current in the armature circuit is reversed. More specifically, current then flows from line 38 to reverser contact 8 by cross conductor 50 to contact 7 through the arm of the reverser to contacts 6 and 4, by conductor 43 to and through the armature in a reverse direction to thatpreviously traced and thence by conductors 42,

41 and 40 to reverser contact 11 and through 5 the arm of said reverser to contact 10, cross conductor 49 to contact 5 and return wire 44.

As illustrated, the controller 32' is in such position that it places no restriction on the field rheostat or, in other words, permits said reverser, by conductor 40 through for restriction of the effectiveness thereof to include resistance and at the same time provides for regulation of the field resistance at will by said-controller when the rheostat arm is in running position.

The contacts 36 and 37 of relay 35 are respectively connected by conductors 52 and 5347 to extreme contacts of controller 32 and thus when bridged establislra shortcircuit around said controller and rheostat 18.

It will thus be observed that the controller provides for regulation of the motor both by hand and by foot and in such a manner as to render the control of the vehicle very simple, convenient and safe. The two hand levers are similar in arrangement to those of a gas car and provide for determining the direction of operation and speedof the vehicle and for stopping at will throughmovement of the reverser to neutral position. The foot-lever, on the other hand, provides convenient means for slowing down or completely stopping the vehicle and then restarting and reaccelerating the same without operation ofany other means. Further, the arrangement of parts is such that the reverser must be moved to neutral position for permanently interrupting the motor circuit and the reverser and foot lever must both be operated and in a definite sequence to restart whereby the liability of unex pected action of the vehicle and the dangers incident to careless handling are greatly reducedf More specifically, after the motor circuit has been interrupted by the reverser it can only be reclosed by first depressing the foot lever to trip the reverserlatching means, then 0 erating the reverser and then releasing the oot lever to operate the accelerating rheostats as aforesaid and in this connection it will be noted that the motor circuit is not closed by the reverser but by the rheostat 17 upon release ofthe foot lever.

Also, the controller provides important protection for the motor. The interlock between the footlever and the reverser insures against reversalunder power and the relay switch insures a strong field under heavy load conditions regardless of the manipulations of the manual control means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a controller forv motor vehicles, in combination, foot-controlled means to stop the driving motor at will, hand-controlled means to stopthe motor at will and means acting upon operation of said hand means to necessitate operation of both of said means to restart the motor.

2. In a controller for motor vehicles, in combination, foot-controlled means to start and stop the driving motor, hand-controlled means to stop the motor and means acting upon operation of said hand-controlled means to necessitate the operation of both of said means and in a definite sequence to restart the motor.

3. In a motor vehicle controller, in combination, foot-controlled means to start and stop the driving motor, hand-controlled means to stop the motor and means acting upon operation of said hand-controlled means to necessitate operation of said foot controlled means, then operation of said hand -controlled means and then further operation'of said foot-controlled means to restart the motor.

4. In a controller for motor-operated vehicl'es, in combination. foot-operated means operable to interrupt the circuit of the driving motor but biased to circuit closing position, hand-operated means also included in the motor circuit and operable to interrupt said circuit and means acting upon interruption of the motor circuit by said' hand-operated means to restrict reclosure of the motor. circuit to said foot-operated means.

5. In a controller for motor vehicles, in combination, foot-operated means for controlling the continuity of the circuit and the speed of the driving motor and normally standing in a running position, a hand-operated device operable to interrupt the motor circuit and means restricting reestablishment of the motor circuit to said footoperated means.

6. In a controller for motor vehicles, in combination, a hand-controlled reversing switch for the driving motor,'operable to stop the motor at will, foot-controlled means governing the operation of the driving motor and means restricting the starting of the driving motor to said foot-controlled means.

.7. In a controller for motor vehicles, in combination, a hand-controlled reversing switch for the driving motor, foot-controlled means for stopping and starting the motor and an interlock between said reversing switch and means insuring against operation of the former to circuit closing position without previous operation of the latter to interrupt the motor circuit, thereby insuring starting by said means.

8. In a controller for motor vehicles, in combination, speed controlling means and direction controlling means, said means having separate manual control members arranged on the steering post of the vehicle 10. In a controller for motor vehicles, in

combination, starting and accelerating means for the driving motor including a foot-operated member and an independently operable manual member for speed regulation and a manual reversing switch forthe driving motor operable at will to stop the motor and interlocked with said foot-oper ated member to necessitate operation of the latter prior and subsequent to resetting of the former to effect restarting of the driving motor.

11. In combination, a motor, starting means andfield regulating means therefor, a common operating member for said two means and automatic field regulating means predominating over said former field regulating means.

12. In combination, a motor, starting means and field weakening means therefor, a common operating member for said two means and automatic field strengthening means acting under abnormal conditions in the motor circuit to predominate said field weakening means.

13. In combination, .a motor, starting means and field weakening means therefor operable together and a vibrating relay re acting independently of said field weakening means to insure a predetermined field strength under subsequent abnormal conditions in the armature circuit.

15. In a motor vehicle, in combination, a motor, starting means and field weakening means therefor, a common operating member for said means comprising a brake lever and automatic means to delay field weakening by said second mentioned means under abnormal current conditions in the motor circuit without affecting operation thereof.

16. In a motor vehicle, in combination, a

I tion of either of said lastmentioned means.

17. In a motor .vehicle controller, in combination, starting means, speed regulating means, common operating means therefor comprising a brake lever, and manually operable means for effecting speed regulation at will independently of. said former. speed regulating means.

18. In a motor vehicle controller,- in combination, starting means, speed regulating means, common operating means therefor comprising a brake lever, and means manually operable to efiect speed regulation at will independently of said former speed regulating means and to vary the range of regulation obtainable therewith.

' 19. In combination, a motor, starting means and field regulating means therefor, 1

common operating means for said two for- -mer means, -.'other field regulating means to effect field regulation independently of said former field regulating means and for determining the degree of regulation effectable thereby without affecting. operation thereof and automatic means to insure a predetermined field strength under abnormal conditions in the motor circuit without affecting operation of either of said previously mentioned field regulating means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses. .7

CLARK T. HENDERSQN.

Witnesses: I TEKLA BAs'r, L. A. WATSON. 

